Battery pack charging device

ABSTRACT

A thin charging device having excellent portability is provided for charging a battery pack while the battery pack remains housed within a communication device. The charging device (10) is constructed from a flat rectangular shaped main body (12) and a cover (13) which is fixed to a rotation shaft (23) so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body to allow the cover to be positioned in either an open or closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, it covers charging terminals (20) provided on the top of the main body and makes the overall dimensions of the charging device roughly equal to the dimensions of the main body. On the other hand, when the cover is placed in the open position, the cover is maintained at such open position by the provision of support means (34), (35), (37). When a communication device such as a portable telephone (15) is set on the charging device, the back surface (25) of the portable telephone makes contact with the opened cover, whereby the portable telephone is supported in an upright position. In this position, external terminals (30) of the portable telephone make contact with the charging terminals of the charging device and this enables the battery pack (28) housed within the portable telephone to be charged.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a charging device for charging batterypacks used as power sources in communication devices such as portabletelephones, cordless telephones and the like, and in particular relatesto a charging device that can charge a battery pack while the batterypack remains housed within a communication device.

BACKGROUND ART

Rechargeable battery packs are used in the power supplies ofcommunication devices such as portable telephones, cordless telephonesand the like. To charge such a battery pack, it is removed from thecommunication device in which it is housed and placed into a chargingdevice. However, because of the hassle of having to remove and thenreinsert such battery packs, charging devices which allow thecommunication device itself to be inserted into the charging device havebeen developed to enable the battery pack to be charged while it remainshoused within the communication device. With this type of chargingdevice there is no need to remove and reinsert the battery pack, andtherefore the battery back can be charged when the communication deviceis not being used, such as when the communication device is on standby.

One example of such a battery pack charging device is shown in FIG. 1,in which a battery pack 2 is housed within a communication device 1. Inthis construction, the communication device 1 is provided with externalcharging terminals 3 at an external portion thereof, and these externalterminals 3 enable electric current to flow to the battery pack via anelectrical circuit not shown in the drawing.

A charging device 4 for charging the battery pack 2 of the communicationdevice 1 is provided with exposed charging terminals 6 located within adepression 5 provided in a top portion of the charging device 4. Inaddition to these elements, a charging circuit not shown in the drawingis provided in the charging device 4 to allow electrical current from acommercial power source to flow to the charging terminals 6.

Now, when the battery pack 2 is to be charged, the section of thecommunication device 1 which is provided with the external terminals 3is placed into the depression 5 of the charging device 4. This placementresults in the establishment of an electrical connection between theexternal terminals 3 and the charging terminals 6, which in turn allowsan electrical current from the commercial power source to be supplied tothe battery pack 2 via the charging circuit. In this way, the batterypack becomes charged.

As is further, the charging device 4 may also be provided with chargingterminals 7 for charging a reserve battery pack 9 as a single unitseparate from the communication device 1.

Now, as communication devices have become smaller and thinner, they areno longer able to stand up on their own. In response to this problem,the top of the charging device 4 is provided with a back support portion8 which protrudes upwards and forms a continuous surface with a sidesurface of the depression 5 so as to make contact with the back surfaceof the communication device 1 in order to support the communicationdevice 1 in an upright position.

Consequently, it becomes impossible to construct a thin-shaped chargingdevice 4 due to the provision of the back support portion 8. Namely,even though the miniaturization of the communication devices of portabletelephones and the like makes it possible to make such communicationdevices thinner, it is not possible for the charging devices thereof tobe made thinner, and this results in a poor overall portability.Furthermore, this problem becomes more important as the development ofeven thinner communication devices takes place.

Moreover, because the charging terminals 6, 7 lie exposed in topportions of the charging device 4, it is possible for malfunctions toarise due to the presence of dust, moisture or the like.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a battery packcharging device which can be made compact and thin so as to haveexcellent portability. It is a second object of the present invention toprovide a battery pack charging device which can prevent dust, moistureand the like from accumulating at the charging terminals in order toreduce as much as possible the risk of malfunctions. It is a thirdobject of the present invention to provide a battery pack chargingdevice which can reliably support a communication device in an uprightposition while a charging process is being carried out.

To accomplish the objects stated above, the charging device according tothe present invention is constructed from a main body, a first set ofcharging terminals provided on the top of the main body to make contactwith external terminals of a communication device, and a cover which canbe rotated into either an open or closed position with respect to themain body.

In this construction, when the cover is in the closed position, thefirst set of charging terminals of the main body is covered, and whenthe cover is in the open position, the cover acts as a support memberthat makes contact with the communication device to support thecommunication device in an upright position. Accordingly, it is possibleto maintain the communication device in an upright position even whenthe communication device is a thin-type communication device by leaningthe communication device against the cover when the cover is acting as asupport member in the open position. On the other hand, when the coveris in the closed position, it covers and protects the chargingterminals. Furthermore, when the cover is in the closed position, theoverall dimensions of the charging device become roughly the same as thedimensions of the main body. Accordingly, the charging device can bemade compact and portable.

Preferably, the charging device is further provided with a support meansfor maintaining the cover at a prescribed open position. In this way, bymaintaining the cover at the open position, it is possible to reliablymaintain the communication device in a stable upright position when thecommunication device is leaning against the cover for support.

One example of such a support means is constructed from a rotation shaftto which the cover is fixed to allow the cover to rotate between theopen and closed positions, a disk having notched portions formed in theouter circumference thereof which is fixed to the rotation shaft, and aplate spring connected at one end thereof to the main body and having aprotruding portion for mating with the notches of the disk. A secondexample of such a support means is constructed from a support platemember having one end connected to the underside surface of the cover ina manner that enables the support plate member to be rotatable withrespect to the cover, with the other end of the support plate memberbeing insertable into a mating groove that locks the support platemember in place to maintain the cover in the open position. A thirdexample of such a support means is constructed from a lever having afirst end that is connected to either the cover or the main body in amanner that enables the lever to be rotatable with respect thereto and asecond end which is fixed to a pin which is inserted into a guide grooveformed in either the main body or the cover, the guide groove beingshaped so as to lock the lever in place when the cover is set in theopen position.

Furthermore, a U-shaped cut-away section is preferably formed in thefront edge of the cover to receive a back portion of the leaningcommunication device. In particular, the width of the cut-away sectionis preferably made to be roughly the same as the width of thecommunication device in order for the inner side surfaces of thecut-away section to act as guide surfaces which restrict the movement ofthe communication device in the sideways directions.

Moreover, it is preferred that the first set of charging terminals beprovided in a depression formed at a prescribed position in the top ofthe main body with a shape adapted to receive the base of thecommunication device. Further, an auxiliary support member is preferablyprovided at a prescribed position on the underside surface of the coverto make contact with the back surface of the communication device inorder to provide additional support of the communication device when thecommunication device is leaning against the cover. In this case, theauxiliary support member is preferably formed with a shape that allowsthe auxiliary support member to be stored within the space of thedepression when the cover is in the closed position.

In summary, each of the elements described above makes it possible forthe cover to reliably maintain the communication device in a stableupright position.

Further, to make it possible to directly charge an individual batterypack separate from the communication device, a second set of chargingterminals is preferably provided at a prescribed position on top of themain body. In this case, a stopper means is preferably provided at aprescribed position on top of the main body between the first set ofcharging terminals and the second set of charging terminals to abut theindividual battery pack in order to prevent the individual battery packfrom coming into contact with the communication device.

With the above construction, an individual battery pack may be chargedat the same time the battery pack housed within the communication deviceis being charged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art charging device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a battery packcharging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the first embodiment of abattery pack charging device in a state of use.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a battery packcharging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the second embodiment of abattery pack charging device in a state of use.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of abattery pack charging device according to the present invention in astate of use.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a charging deviceaccording to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional viewof the charging device shown in FIG. 2.

A charging device 10 is constructed from a flat rectangular shaped mainbody 12 and a cover 13 which covers the upper part of the main body 12.In this connection, both the main body 12 and the cover 13 are formedinto prescribed shapes from synthetic resin or the like.

Further, a depression 14 is formed in the top of the main body 12 nearthe front edge thereof. This depression 14 is formed so as to have ashape that roughly corresponds to the external shape of a base 16 of acommunication device, in this case, a portable telephone 15. Namely, bysetting the base 16 of the portable telephone 15 into the depression 14,the portable telephone 15 will be supported in an upright position atthe time of charging. Further, a shallow depression 17 is formed in themiddle of the top of the main body 12. Now, in the depressions 14, 17,openings 18, 19 are respectively formed, and through these openings 18,19, charging terminals 20, 21 are arranged so that the tips thereof areexposed to the outside. Further, an electrical circuit (not shown in thedrawings) for carrying out charging operations is housed inside the mainbody 12. This electric circuit is used to carry out charging operationsby supplying electric current, received from a commercial power sourcevia an electric cord, to the charging terminals 20, 21.

The cover 13 is fixed to a rotation shaft 23 that is arranged at therear of the main body 12 so as to be freely rotatable with respect tothe main body 12, whereby the cover 13 is able to rotate together withthe rotation shaft 13 to allow the cover 13 to be moved between open andclosed positions. Namely, when the cover 13 is in the closed position,the cover 13 covers the charging terminals 20, 21 provided in thedepressions 14, 17 of the main body 12, and when the cover 13 is in theopen position, the depressions 14, 17 and the charging terminalsprovided therein are exposed. Furthermore, when the cover 13 is in theopen position, the cover 13 acts as a support portion that supports theportable telephone 15 when the portable telephone 15 is set into thedepression 14 of the main body 12. In other words, the portabletelephone 15 leans against the cover 13, whereby the portable telephone15 is supported in an upright position.

Further, an elongated U-shaped cut-away section is formed in the tip ofthe cover 13, with the width thereof being roughly equal to the width ofthe portable telephone 15. In this way, both the inner side surfaces ofthe cut-away section form guide surfaces 22 that make contact with theside surfaces of the leaning portable telephone 15 so as to restrict theportable telephone 15 from moving in the sideways directions. In asimilar manner, the back surface (bottom surface) of the cut-awaysection forms a support surface 24 that makes contact with the backsurface 25 of the leaning portable telephone 15 so as to prevent theportable telephone 15 from falling over. In addition to the cut-awaysection, a protruding auxiliary support member 27 is provided at aprescribed position on the underside surface of the cover 13, namely ata position adjacent to the support surface 24, and this auxiliarysupport member 27 also makes contact with the back surface 25 of theportable telephone 15. In this way, the base 16 of the portabletelephone 15 is in contact with the main body 12 and the back surface 25and side surfaces of the portable telephone 15 are in contact with thecover 13 to prevent movement in those directions, whereby the portabletelephone 15 is maintained in an upright position. Now with regards tothe auxiliary support member 27, when the cover 13 is closed, theauxiliary support member 27 fits into the inner space of the depression14 of the main body 12. Consequently, it is possible to construct thethin charging device 10 shown in FIG. 2 even when the cover 13 isprovided with the auxiliary support member 27.

Now, to enable a charging current to reach the battery pack 28 housedwith the portable telephone 15, the bottom portion of the portabletelephone 15 is provided with external terminals 30 which make contactwith the charging terminals 20 of the charging device 10 to form anelectrical connection therebetween when the base 16 of the portabletelephone 15 is set into the depression 14 of the charging device 10. Inthis way, the battery pack 28 can be charged while it remains housedwithin the portable telephone 15.

Further, the charging device 10 is provided with a support means tomaintain the cover 13 in either the open or closed position. Namely, therotation shaft 23 is provided with a disk 34 that is in contact with aplate spring 35 arranged in the main body 12. To maintain the cover ineither the open or closed position, a first notch 37 and a second notch38 are formed at prescribed positions along the outer circumference ofthe disk 34, and a protruding portion 36 is formed at the tip of theplate spring 35 to mate with either of the first or second notches 37,38 so as to stop rotational movement of the rotation shaft 23.Specifically stated, when the cover 13 is in the open position, theprotruding portion 36 mates with the first notch 37 to lock the cover 13in the open position, and when the cover 13 is in the closed position,the protruding portion 36 mates with the second notch 38 to lock thecover 13 in the closed position. In this way, the cover 13 can only belocked at prescribed angles in order to maintain the cover 13 in eitherthe open and closed positions.

Now, a reserve battery pack 40 is set on top of the main body 12 fromthe rear. Namely, a large U-shaped cut-away section 41 is formed in thebase end of the cover 13, and with the cover 13 in the open position,the reserve battery pack 40 is passed through the cut-away section 41and set onto the main body 12. When arranged in this way, terminals 42of the battery pack 40 are in contact with the charging terminals 21 ofthe charging device 10 so as to form an electrical connectiontherebetween, whereby it is also possible for the battery pack 40 to becharged as an individual unit separate from the portable telephone 15.In this connection, the front edge of the reserve battery pack 40 abutsa stopper 44 that is formed as a ridge which is contiguous with the edgeof the depression 14 in which the base 16 of the portable telephone 15sits. In this way, the reserve battery pack 40 is prevented from cominginto contact with the portable telephone 15.

In the above-described construction, the cover 13 can be rotatedtogether with the rotation shaft 23 to place the cover 13 in either theopen or closed position. In the case where the cover 13 is set in theopen position, the cover 13 itself acts as a support member that cansupport the portable telephone 15 in an upright position even when theportable telephone 15 is a thin-type portable telephone. On the otherhand, when the charging device 10 is not in use, by setting the cover 13in the closed position, the external dimensions of the charging device10 can be made to be roughly the same as the external dimensions of themain body 12, and this makes it possible for the charging device 10 tobe constructed as a thin-type charging device. Consequently, it becomespossible to construct a compact and highly portable charging device.Furthermore, by closing the cover 13, the charging terminals 20, 21become covered, and this prevents dust, moisture and the like fromaccumulating on and around the charging terminals.

Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of a charging deviceaccording to the present invention. As in the first embodiment, thecharging device 10a of the second embodiment is constructed from a flatrectangular shaped main body 12a and a cover 13a which covers the upperpart of the main body 12a. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a depression 14afor receiving a portable telephone is formed in the top of the main body12a at a prescribed position, with charging terminals 20a being providedin the bottom of the depression 14a. In addition to these terminals,separate charging terminals 21a are provided in the middle of the top ofthe main body 12a for charging a reserve battery pack 40a. Further, thecover 13a is fixed to a rotation shaft 23a to allow the cover 13a to berotated between open and closed positions. In other words, the basicconstruction of the charging device 10a of the second embodiment isroughly the same as the basic structure of the charging device of thefirst embodiment.

However, the support means of the second embodiment which maintains thecover 13a in the prescribed open position is different from thatdescribed above for the first embodiment.

Namely, the charging device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided with aroughly U-shaped support plate member 45 having ends 46 connected to theunderside surface of the cover 13a in a manner that enables the supportplate member 45 to be rotatable with respect to the cover 13a. Further,the support plate member 45 is provided with a spring member 48 such asa torsion spring or the like which acts to bias the support plate member45 toward the cover 13a. In this way, when there is no load on thespring member 48, the support plate member 45 runs flush with theunderside surface of the cover 13a. In this connection, it is to benoted that the spring member 48 is not limited to the torsion springdescribed above. Namely, the spring member 48 may be constructed fromother biasing means such as a plate spring or the like.

Further, the support plate member 45 has a base 49 which is adapted tobe inserted into a mating groove 50 formed in the top of the main body12a near the edge of the depression 14a. In this construction, when thebase 49 is fitted into the groove 50, as shown in FIG. 5, the cover 13ais securely held in the open position. In other words, the insertion ofthe base 49 into the groove 50 prevents the cover 13a from falling backinto the closed position.

Now, when the cover 13a is to be moved from the open position shown inFIG. 5 to the closed position shown in FIG. 4, the cover 13a is firstmoved a slight amount in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.5, namely in the direction that causes the cover 13a to further open up.When this is done, the base 49 of the support plate member 45 is pulledout of the groove 50, and then the biasing force of the spring member 48automatically causes the support plate member 45 to return toward theunderside surface of the cover 13a in the direction indicated by thearrow B in FIG. 5. Then, after the support plate member 45 has returnedto its position along the underside surface of the cover 13a, the cover13a is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 5 toclose the cover 13a with the main body 12a. In this connection, becausethe support plate member 45 is held by the spring member 48 in closecontact with the underside surface of the cover 13a, there is no need toprovide a special stopper means to maintain the cover 13a in the closedposition shown in FIG. 4.

In the case where the cover 13a is to be moved from the closed positionto the open position, the cover 13a is first opened up by hand or thelike and then the support plate member 45 is pulled away from theunderside surface of the cover 13a to insert the base 49 of the supportplate member 45 into the groove 50.

Further, when a reserve battery pack 40a is being charged by thecharging device 10a, the tip of the reserve battery pack 40a abuts thesupport plate member 45 and is thereby prevented from coming intocontact with the portable telephone placed in the depression 14a.Namely, the support plate member 45 acts as a stopper means.

Moreover, it is to be noted that it is not necessary to provide thespring 48 in the charging device 10a according to the second embodiment.In other words, the support means of the second embodiment of thepresent invention only requires that the support plate member 45 befreely rotatable with respect to the cover 13a.

Next, FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of a charging deviceaccording to the present invention. As in the first and secondembodiments, the charging device 10b of the third embodiment isconstructed from a flat rectangular shaped main body 12b and a cover 13bwhich covers the upper part of the main body 12b. Further, a depression14b for receiving a portable telephone is formed in the top of the mainbody 12b at a prescribed position, with charging terminals 20b beingprovided in the bottom of the depression 14b. In addition to theseterminals, separate charging terminals 21b are provided in the middle ofthe top of the main body 12b for charging a reserve battery pack 40b.Further, the cover 13b is fixed to a rotation shaft 23b to allow thecover 13b to be rotated between open and closed positions. In otherwords, the basic construction of the charging device 10b of the thirdembodiment is roughly the same as the basic structure of the chargingdevice of the first and second embodiments.

However, the support means of the third embodiment which maintains thecover 13b in the prescribed open position is different from thosedescribed above for the first and second embodiments.

Namely, the charging device 10b is provided with at least one lever 52having a first end 53 which is connected to the inside of one of thesides of the cover 13b in a manner that enables the lever 52 to berotatable with respect to the cover 13b. Further, the lever 52 has asecond end which is fixed to a pin 54 which is inserted into a guidegroove 56 formed in a side of the main body 12b, whereby the second endof the lever 52 is capable of following the path of the guide groove 56.In this connection, the guide groove 56 has a small raised section neara first end portion 57 thereof. Further, the rotation shaft 23b isprovided with a spring member 58 comprised of a helical torsion springwhich biases the cover 13b in the direction toward the closed position.

In this way, when the cover 13b is being opened, the pin 54 which isfixed to the lever 52 is caused to move along the path of the guidegroove 56 in the direction toward the first end portion 57 thereof.Then, once the pin 54 has reached the first end portion 57 of the guidegroove 56 after having crossed over the raised section, the biasingforce of the spring member 58 holds the pin against the raised sectionto lock the lever 52 in place, whereby the cover 13b is maintained inthe open position. Now, in order to return the cover 13b to the closedposition, it is necessary to supply an outside force by hand or the liketo pull the pin 54 up and over the raised section toward the other endof the groove 56.

Now, for the third embodiment described above, it is possible to reversethe arrangement of elements of the support means. Namely, one end of thelever can be connected to the main body in a manner that enables thelever to rotate with respect to the main body, and the other end of thelever can be fixed to a pin which is inserted into a guide groove formedin the cover.

In summary, in addition to being able to charge battery packs asindividual units, the charging device according to the present inventioncan be used to charge battery packs while such battery packs remainstored within a communication device. In particular, the cover of thecharging device according to the present invention acts as a supportmember to support even a thin-type communication device in an uprightposition while the battery pack housed within such communication deviceis being charged.

We claim:
 1. A charging device for charging a battery pack housed withina communication device, comprising:a flat-shaped main body; firstcharging terminals provided in the main body, the first chargingterminals being adapted to make electrical contact with charge receptionterminals of the communication device: and a rotatable cover which canbe opened and closed by being rotated with respect to the main body,such that when the cover is in a closed position, the cover covers thefirst charging terminals, and when the cover is in an open position, thecover is in an upright state which enables the cover to act as a supportmember which is adapted to support at least a back surface of thecommunication device when the communication device is in a chargingposition on the charging device.
 2. The charging device of claim 1,wherein a cut-away portion is formed in one end of the cover, thecut-away portion having side walls which are adapted to act as guidesurfaces (22) which inhibit the communication device from moving in thesideways directions when the communication device is being supported bythe cover.
 3. A charging device for charging a battery pack housedwithin a communication device, comprising:a main body; first chargingterminals provided in the main body, the first charging terminals beingadapted to make electrical contact with charge reception terminals ofthe communication device; and a cover which can be opened and closedwith respect to the main body, such that when the cover is in a closedposition, the cover covers the first charging terminals, and when thecover is in an open position, the cover acts as a support member whichis adapted to support the communication device when the communicationdevice is in a charging position on the charging device; furthercomprising:a depression formed at a prescribed position in the main bodyfor receiving a base portion of the communication device when thecommunication device is placed on the charging device for charging; andan auxilliary support member provided at a prescribed position on theunderside surface of the cover, the auxiliary support member beingadapted to make contact with a back surface of the communication devicewhen the communication device is being supported by the cover; whereinthe first charging terminals are provided within the depression and theauxiliary support member is adapted to be stored in a space of thedepression when the cover is closed.
 4. The charging device of claim 1,2 or 3 further comprising:second charging terminals (21) provided at aprescribed position in the main body, the second charging terminalsbeing adapted to directly charge individual battery packs.
 5. Thecharging device of claim 4, further comprising:stopper means (44), (45)provided at a prescribed position on the main body between the firstcharging terminals and the second charging terminals to prevent anindividual battery pack from coming into contact with the communicationdevice when the individual battery pack is being charged.
 6. Thecharging device of claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising:cover supportmeans for maintaining the cover at a prescribed open position.
 7. Thecharging device of claim 6, wherein the cover support means comprises:arotation shaft (23), the rotation shaft being connected to the cover toenable the cover to rotate between open and closed positions; a disk(34) having notched portions (37), the disk being connected to therotation shaft so as to rotate therewith; and a plate spring member (35)having a first end which is connected to the main body and a second endwhich includes a mating portion which is adapted to mate with thenotched portions of the disk to lock the rotation shaft in place inorder to maintain the cover in the prescribed open position.
 8. Thecharging device of claim 6, wherein the cover support means comprises:asupport plate member (45) having a first end (46) connected to theunderside surface of the cover in a manner that enables the supportplate member to rotate with respect to the cover and a second end (49)which can be positioned along the main body; and a support plate stoppermeans provided at a prescribed position on the main body, the supportplate stopper means (50) being adapted to receive and hold the secondend of the support plate member in place, whereby the cover ismaintained at the prescribed open position.
 9. The charging device ofclaim 6, wherein the cover support means comprises:a lever (52) having afirst end which is connected to either the cover or the main body in amanner that enables the lever to be rotatable thereto and a second endwhich is connected to a pin, the pin being inserted into a guide groove(56) formed in either the main body or the cover, wherein the guidegroove is shaped with a locking portion that locks the pin in place whenthe cover is placed in the prescribed open position, whereby the coveris maintained in the open position.